Boro Book Bites

The Friends of Linebaugh Library (FOLL) regularly invites funding requests from library staff for special projects and programs. Library staff at the Technology Engagement Center (TEC) shared photos of some recent FOLL-funded projects. Above, TEC branch manager Kathleen Tyree shows off a new library symbol sign for the building’s exterior, and library associate Joe Hill highlights the TEC’s restocked seed library. FOLL also provided support for the TEC’s robotics program, patio umbrellas, and the gaming system in the photo below.

Friends,

Here we are in midsummer and, boy, is it ever hot. Reminds me of baling and stacking hay in the barn when I was younger — much younger.

The Juneteenth Celebration was also “hot” both in temperature and in the number of people who stopped by our booth. We arrived with 27 trays of books and returned with just two trays! Friends gave out 200 special bookmarks highlighting local African American Rutherford County residents who have played a significant role in our community. My thanks to the bookstore committee for collecting all the books and equally to those who volunteered to staff the booth that day.

Our nation’s 250th birthday will have come and gone by the time you receive this newsletter. While the fabric of our nation may be fraying and a bit tattered, it continues to call us toward a better future for all. The values we hold dear will help sustain us during this time of deep division. All that to say, I hope many of you had the opportunity to attend the library’s lecture series and displays touching on varied aspects of our national experience. Through special programming and exhibits such as these, one gets a glimpse into the library’s central role in our community.

Good reading!

Bearl Beasley, FOLL President

"The most important asset of any library goes home at night – the library staff." — Timothy Healy

FOLL gave away books at the Murfreesboro Saturday Market on May 9 and at Murfreesboro’s Juneteenth event on June 20. Thanks to all of the FOLL volunteers who helped with these popular community events! Watch your email for future volunteer opportunities.

FOLL recently funded two professional development travel requests for Mindy Barrett, branch manager of Linebaugh Library, and Kathleen Tyree, branch manager of the Technology Engagement Center. Mindy and Kathleen attended the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Minneapolis. Each shared a reflection on the experience.

Mindy Barrett: Thanks to FOLL’s support for continuing education through their Garrett Crowell Staff Professional Development Fund, I was able to attend the 2026 Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis, MN. PLA is one of the largest public library events in the world, and it only takes place every other year, making it all the more special. I attended sessions such as Building Joy-Centric Libraries, Serious Leaders Play, Faith for Libraries, Every Story Matters, and Every Body Belongs. I also had the opportunity to visit hundreds of vendors in the exhibit hall, allowing me to connect and interact with new technology, publications, products, and services that are up and coming in the library world. One of the items I wanted to lay eyes on was the Envisionware locker system that we look forward to bringing to our community soon. - MB

Kathleen Tyree: Minneapolis was a beautiful, friendly place to visit. My husband, Steve, and I checked out the main Hennepin County Library, the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden—on a sunny, 74° day — and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. These were free for us thanks to the PLA Conference. We also trekked up to Paisley Park to pay homage to Prince. Here are my best takeaways:

Programs:

• Building Joy-Centric Libraries — Anne Arundel County Public Library — Seeds of Joy, (I would have been happy attending *just* this program), ordering [Rebecca Hass'] book.

• 3D Printing for Accessibility — Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries — great prompts on Self-Driven Makerspaces; adapting existing patterns; taking 3D printers on Outreach.

• Rooted in Inclusion — Cobb County Public Library session on community gardens, partnership ideas (theirs is a much larger scale), garden club, access.

• Redesigning Rules to Reflect Library Values — Seattle Public Library

• Safety Done Right (Deep Dive) — Charleston County Public Library — closer to what we may be able to achieve, better tolerances for all communities, safe workplace for staff.

How-To Stage (20 min. limit):

• Create a Library Style Guide — Watertown Free Public Library — tighten up controls on graphics/flyers, etc., to better represent the library’s brand (at least we *have* one!).

• Build a Bike Maintenance Clinic — Richland Public Library — partnerships with local business, advocacy groups; teach safety, bicycle maintenance.

• Teach Tech to Adults Who *Swear* They’re BAD at Technology — Rogers Memorial Library — looking forward to sharing this with staff (session leader was very entertaining).

I am very grateful for this opportunity as well as all the support provided to our libraries by our Friends. - KT

FOLL is proud to sponsor such meaningful professional development experiences for our library staff.

— Reports compiled by Carol Ghattas, FOLL Media and Marketing Committee

Often, a lot of hype over a book can make me hesitant. It is a me thing, and I take full ownership of that. It’s a combination of the months-long waitlist I will encounter and the fear of...What if I don’t like the book? Will my library card be revoked? Will bookworms and bookshop owners shun me for not liking the latest NY Times Bestseller? In reality, none of those things is true, but my anxiety kind of makes it feel real. All of that to say, in April 2026, I read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I waited patiently in a hold list queue for about six months via Libby. I can say with all the honesty I have that I loved this book, and it was 100% worth the wait. It had a wonderful story and a unique writing format that made me devour it.

One of my favorite styles of writing is found objects/media. It’s like sitting in a relative’s attic that is full of adventures waiting to be discovered. It is the best way to research anyone’s life, in my opinion. You become an archaeologist when that attic is opened up. That is what Evans creates in this story about the lovely Sybil Van Antwerp. A woman full of wisdom but also seeking solace from a moment in time. She shares a collection of unsent letters that become pages of a running stream of consciousness one might find in a diary. Like any human, Sybil has flaws. She is not always the cup of tea or the understanding individual she wants to be. But she seeks knowledge of individuals: familial, personal, and acquaintances. That desire to know and understand allows her to see different points of view. And ultimately, it leads to a peaceful reconciliation within herself.

At first, this book left me wanting to write letters, obviously. Connection comes in many different forms today, and I get how a phone call or text message doesn’t feel personal. In this digital age, we skim texts and emails because it’s quicker. A digital format has become something we associate with “quick.” It’s no fault of anyone or anything. It is just how correspondence has progressed and changed. It isn’t any less personal, but a letter is more intentional. It is why every parent has a stash of saved items that their child has written to them. It is why, to this day, love letters are associated with one of the most romantic gestures one can offer their partner. It is why so many high school students have letters from a BFF saved inside a box. It is why journaling can be so healing. Words have power, but emotion is more likely to be associated with handwriting. I don’t think this means we should do away with all technology and stop emails. I do think it means we should sit with this. And maybe? We should write more.

– Jessica Bruce, Linebaugh Library Assistant

FOLL’s eBay store raises money to support our local libraries by selling select books from the bookstore’s inventory of donated books. Volunteers scan, list, and ship books in the FOLL bookstore workroom. Above, FOLL members (from left to right) Renee Stewart, Kay Norman, and Kathy Dassaro scan incoming donations. Dianne Hall ships books that have sold on our eBay store. Interested in volunteering for FOLL’s eBay store? Contact Sonny Perry at sonnyperry316@gmail.com.

FOLL sponsors a book and author event every year. The tradition was first started in 1982, the year after FOLL was formed. It had a great start with Wilma Dykeman, a well-known author. Initially, the event was a dinner. Later, it evolved into the luncheon we have today, usually in the winter.

Let’s check in on what some of our more recent speakers have been doing since they headlined our event. [Authors are listed alphabetically, by last name.]

• Susan Gregg Gilmore (2015) – The Funeral Dress; The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush.

• Phyllis Gobbell (2019) – Notorious in Nashville.

• Patti Callahan Henry (2026) – Patti could scarcely be expected to have published another book since she entertained us so recently, but her latest books are The Secret Book of Flora Lea and The Story She Left Behind. She continues to co-host Friends & Fiction on Wednesday nights on Facebook.

• Don Keith (2016) – Snapshot; Southern Cross; The Gibraltar Affair. Titles to be published in 2026 are Darkest Before Dawn; Blacksmith of Dachau; and Goodnight from Berlin.

• Ariel Lawhon (2025) – The Pirate Queen, publication date September 2026.

• Sharyn McCrumb (2011) – Prayers the Devil Answers; The Unquiet Grave.

• Rachel Louise Martin (2024) – Forthcoming in 2027 is a biography of Rosalynn Carter.

• Ruta Sepetys (2018) – The Bletchley Riddle; A Fortune of Sand.

• Brenda Vantrease (2014) – The Queen’s Promise; A Far Horizon.

• Steven Womack (2013) – Death of a College (nonfiction); Blood Plot; Why She Killed Him (2026).

We have been fortunate over the last 40 years to enjoy such a wide range of speakers. Come join us next winter for one of our favorite traditions. Details will come later this year.

– FOLL Board Member, Sally Schneider

On June 14, the Friends of Linebaugh Library supported the Rutherford County Library Alliance’s (RCLA) Titans of Trivia fundraising event by fielding a team called the Titans of FOLL. This third annual fundraiser was held at Oaklands Mansion and brought together community members for the love of books and reading freedom.

FOLL benefited from the perks of a VIP Table that included a handful of free passes and personalized table service. All enjoyed the refreshments, the lively atmosphere, and especially the literary-themed trivia questions. Each round was a witty literary theme (e.g., “Did the dog die?”) that challenged the audience. Thank goodness there were community librarians available to provide expert advice (for an additional donation).

Your Titans of FOLL came out ahead and won first place. Congratulations to team members [left to right in the photo above] Jason Vance, Amanda Moore, Jonathan Goddard, Sarah Goddard, Kris Delene, LeeAnne Carmack, Debbie Perry, and Sonny Perry! What a lovely afternoon of friends, books, and bragging rights.

— Sarah Goddard, FOLL Media and Marketing Committee

FOLL’s budget is in good standing. In the second quarter of 2026, FOLL activities generated $10,636 in revenue. Bookstore and eBay book sales combined for $10,247 in income, with the remainder coming from membership dues, donations, and interest.

FOLL spent $17,713 this quarter supporting library programs and services like Linebaugh’s Winter Reading Program, promotional Earth Day tote bags, and Free Comic Book Day. FOLL also bought preservation supplies for the Historical Research Center, and it supported two staff members’ travel to the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis. FOLL approved funding for several Technology Engagement Center requests, including new carts, a coffee maker, and bookmarks. FOLL spent $5,804 on January’s Author Luncheon expenses.

Saturday Book Sales, FOLL Bookstore, Linebaugh Library:

• August 15, 9AM-1PM

• September 19, 9AM-1PM

Garrett Crowell Staff Development Fund

Established by the FOLL, this memorial fund supports library staff for the purpose of professional development and educational opportunities. The fund is named in memory of former Linebaugh Circulation Supervisor Garrett Crowell, who died suddenly in November 2023. Garrett was a dedicated librarian with a wonderful sense of humor who always looked out for his staff. Donations can be mailed to Friends of Linebaugh Public Library, P.O. Box 2903, Murfreesboro, TN 37133.

If you haven't already done so, please renew your membership for 2026. If you have any questions, contact us at follintheboro@gmail.com.